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I am an amateur writer, I love to blog and connect with people online. If I could my whole day would be spent just writing.

Monday, November 30, 2009

Cyber Monday Sales

Today just may be the easiest Holiday shopping day for a lot of folks. It is Cyber Monday, and a record number of people are expected to take advantage of the online deals, including me. This is the day when my fellow shoppers and I can shop in the comfort of our own home, using the laptop. No having to put up with grumpy shoppers, or stand in long lines, or worst, get into one of those long lines, and remember we forgot to pick up one of those ‘can’t miss deals’! I’ve been there and done that!

This year, there are a considerable amount of online sites that are offering no shipping charges, as well as deep discounts on lots of items. Also, by shopping online, I can take my time and comparison shop, to make sure the best deal is found. Lots of sites also have great coupons to use on hot products that you may not find in the store.

I can also save some time by having the company I purchased my gift from, wrap it and send it direct to anywhere. That will make my life easier since I won’t have to stand in line at the post office.

So far, I’ve been able to mark off several items on my list today, maybe since the deals are so good, I should just pick up a few ‘Santa’ gifts for myself!

For more on today’s hottest stories, check out our top searched list. What other big stories happened today? Let us know! Come back for tomorrow’s Hot Searches and follow us on Twitter and Facebook for daily updates

Hot Searches for November 30, 2009
1. Cyber Monday - Great Online Discounts to be had.
2. Mike Penner - Sports writer for LA times passes away at age 52
3. Tiger Woods crash - Issues statement, admits fault
4. Minarets - Swiss vote to ban iconic Mosque towers
5. Seattle Shootings - Suspect cornered and presumed dead
6. Tareq Salahi - Senate calls for charges for party crashers
7. Charlie Weis - Speculation whether he will remain coach at ND
8. BCS Rankings - Who will be in the Bowl games?
9. Church of Scientology - Blamed for suicide
10. Pamela Bach - David Hasselhoffs ex-wife arrested for DUI

More: Cyber Monday sales, best online deals, online toy deals, hot deals online, computer deals online

 

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Sunday, November 29, 2009

Clippers announcers meet with Haddadi before game (AP)

Clippers play-by-play man Ralph Lawler and color analyst Michael Smith met with Grizzlies center Hamed Haddadi before Sunday’s game at Staples Center, where they expressed regret for an incident that earned the TV broadcasters a one-game suspension. It was the first meeting between the teams since Lawler’s and Smith’s off-the-cuff remarks about the Iranian-born center during the final…

Read more of Clippers announcers meet with Haddadi before game (AP)…



Saturday, November 28, 2009

Body of trapped Utah spelunker won't be recovered (AP)

AP - The popular Utah cave where a 26-year-old medical student died earlier in the week will be closed permanently and his body will not be removed, state and county officials said Friday.

Read more of Body of trapped Utah spelunker won’t be recovered (AP)…



Thursday, November 26, 2009

Dubai request for debt 'standstill' raises fear (AP)

AP - Just a year after the global downturn derailed Dubai’s explosive growth, the city is now so swamped in debt that it’s asking for a six-month reprieve on paying its bills — causing a drop on world markets Thursday and raising questions about Dubai’s reputation as a magnet for international investment.

Read more of Dubai request for debt ’standstill’ raises fear (AP)…



Dubai debt fears hit world markets hard (AP)

World stock markets tumbled Thursday as investors fretted over the debt problems at Dubai World, a government investment company, and the continuing slide in the dollar, which earlier fell to a 14-year low against the yen.

Read more of Dubai debt fears hit world markets hard (AP)…



Obama Will Use West Point as Backdrop to Present Afghan Strategy

President Obama will talk about the troop increase and bringing troops home, as he walks a fine line between demonstrating resolve and reassuring Americans that the commitment to Afghanistan is not open-ended.

Read more of Obama Will Use West Point as Backdrop to Present Afghan Strategy…



Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Islam's hajj: rain and fears of swine flu (AP)

AP - Muslim pilgrims circled Islam’s holiest site Wednesday in their traditional white robes, with a few additions — umbrellas and face masks — as the opening of the annual hajj was complicated by torrential rains and fears of swine flu.

Read more of Islam’s hajj: rain and fears of swine flu (AP)…



Tuesday, November 24, 2009

Top Republican lawmakers not attending State Dinner

While the White House is mum about who will be among the 300 or so lucky invitees to President Obama’s first state dinner Tuesday night, word is already leaking out about who’s not going to be there. Chief among the non-attendees: top Republican lawmakers. House Minority Leader John A. Boehner was invited but won’t be there; he’s on Thanksgiving break and home in Ohio. His deputy, Rep. Eric Cantor of Virginia, didn’t get an invitation to the dinner. The president didn’t invite his 2008 rival, Sen. John McCain of Arizona, even though Mr. Obama the candidate pledged a post-partisan presidency. .

Read more of Top Republican lawmakers not attending State Dinner…



Monday, November 23, 2009

A great burden grows

A year after the global economy teetered on the verge of collapse, a recession — a lingering and unwelcome guest — has settled in at dinner tables across the land.



Read more about A great burden grows…



Taylor Swift wins five American Music Awards (Reuters)

Reuters - Country crossover star Taylor Swift overshadowed the late Michael Jackson at the American Music Awards on Sunday, winning five prizes including artist of the year.

Read more of Taylor Swift wins five American Music Awards (Reuters)…



Saturday, November 21, 2009

Tween Justin Bieber fans lose control at LI mall (AP)

AP - Police on Long Island had to shut down a mall appearance by teen pop singer Justin Bieber after thousands of young girls showed up, and got a little too wild.

Read more of Tween Justin Bieber fans lose control at LI mall (AP)…



Friday, November 20, 2009

North Pole Alaska

Photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/walkadog/

Photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/walkadog/

Did you ever receive a letter from Santa? When I was a child, once, I received a letter from Santa and it was post marked North Pole Alaska.

It turns out that kids have been sending and receiving thousands and thousands of letters to and from the North Pole for decades but that is all ending. Some say it's because of the increased price of postage and some are calling the postal service the Grinch.

This program was sponsored by the postal service and is now ending at the postal service's directions. But it is not because of the costs involved.

It turns out that the reason for ending the program is that there is a fear that child molesters could get a hold of lists of children involved and that would not be a good thing. This has not happened yet, but there is the fear of it happening. I think this was a great service that North Pole Alaska has been providing and they deserve a big thank you.

I also think this should be thought about again because we can't live our lives in fear and we should be able to enjoy special things in life.



New moon quotes

Photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/33369864@N07/

Photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/33369864@N07/

I couldn't be a bigger fan of the books twilight, new moon, eclipse and breaking dawn. In twilight, it's all a love story; you can't get more of a girly book than that.

Some of the new moon quotes are crazy, like when Edward decides to leave Bella. He says some pretty crazy and sad things. And in eclipse has some really good imagination going on and breaking dawn is just exciting all around.

These books are so great. You cry, you laugh and you can get scared too. One time my friend was reading twilight and it got to a scary part, and she had to close the book because she got to scared. It was pretty funny.

Those books can be interesting. But the sad things about the books are they get your hopes up. For example if a girl read s them and she doesn't have a boyfriend she would get so depressed.

It's hard for some women to see other girls so happy with things that they don't have. It's a girl thing, it's kind of pathetic but that's how insecure girls are. Edward is just the perfect dream guy and every girl just always dreams of some guy like that. Great looking, gentlemen and caring and he can love unconditionally. You don't come across those kinds of guys often, and if you do, there probably already taken.

The fun things about the books are that they create such emotion and imagination. There a great book to grab when you're bored. I love it!



AP NewsBreak: China holds, mistreats US geologist (AP)

AP - Sometime into his long detention by China’s feared state security agents, American geologist Xue Feng had something to show U.S. consular officials on their monthly visit. He rolled up his sleeve, revealing the burns where his interrogators pressed lit cigarettes into his arm.

Read more of AP NewsBreak: China holds, mistreats US geologist (AP)…



Thursday, November 19, 2009

Ahead of the Bell: Jobless claims (AP)

The number of newly laid-off workers seeking unemployment benefits likely edged up last week, after falling by 30,000 in the previous two weeks.

Read more of Ahead of the Bell: Jobless claims (AP)…



Savings Account Interest Rate Updates

Still not much action in interest rate land, but here’s another update.

Reward Checking Accounts
These are checking accounts, usually through local credit unions, that pay a very high interest rate if you jump through some hoops each month. However, if you make a mistake you’ll forfeit virtually all your interest for that month, so it can be tricky. But for the very diligent, their rates are still averaging around 3-5% APY usually on balances up to $25,000. Here’s a recent example at 3.50% APY on up to $50k, which requires 10 check card purchases each month, a direct deposit/auto-withdrawal, and online statements.

For more, see my review of rewards checking accounts and also this list of accounts by state. I’d stick with small local credit unions with limited membership eligibility if possible, as the rates tend to be more stable.

Online Savings Accounts Rate Updates

  • Everbank is offering 2.51% APY for the first 3 months for new accounts. This rate is higher than any 3-month certificates of deposit currently available.
  • ShoreBank Direct is offering 1.95% APY on its online savings account with $1 to open and no monthly fees.
  • Ally Bank Online Savings recently raised their “no fine print” savings account rate to 1.64% APY. No minimums, no monthly fees.

Certificates of Deposit
As stated above, for 3-months or less go with Everbank. In general, CD rates have been very low, and given how fast rates can rise as compared to how much further they might fall, I don’t see the benefit in locking up for money for a slightly longer period of time. For example, a top 1-Year CD might get you 2% APY, while stretching out to 3 years might bump you up to 2.80% APY, according to CD “auction” site MoneyAisle.

If you are in a high tax bracket and have a 5-6 year horizon, you may also want to research the Vanguard Intermediate-Term Tax-Exempt mutual fund (VWITX). It currently has an average duration of 5.5 years and an SEC yield of 3.01% that is exempt from federal income taxes. In the 35% tax bracket, that is a tax-equivalent yield of ~4.61%. A top 5-year CD from MoneyAisle yields 3.39% APY. VWITX is not FDIC-insured and invests in high-grade municipal bonds, so weigh your options carefully.

Remember, the new $250,000 FDIC & NCUA insurance limits per titled accounts are currently extended through 2013.

Read more about Savings Account Interest Rate Updates…



Wednesday, November 18, 2009

It really isn't nice to judge

I hate it when people judge others without knowing anything about it. In fact, I hate it when people judge others based on things they know about them also. I think that people have no right to judge others. It is hard because we all have our own standards that we expect other people to just follow.

It makes it harder not to judge them. I want to judge people based on the standard I have for myself. I know that it isn't right. I don't know what is going on in anybody else's lives. I don't know the whole story. I have no right to judge other people based on the appearance that I see.



The Silverdome

Photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/14380473@N07/

Photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/14380473@N07/

The Silverdome was bought today for $587,000. Michigan is sure struggling.

First there is Detroit with a 29% unemployment rate and where the average home is selling for less than $7,500 because there are no jobs and the highest crime rate in the nation. You do not want to live in Detroit.

And now, it's neighbor, Pontiac, Michigan has sold its Silverdome, the Pontiac Silverdome, the home of the Detroit Lions from 1975 to 2001, the Detroit Pistons from 1978 to 1988, the Michigan Panthers from 1983 to 1984, the Motor City Bowl from 1997 until 2001, MHSAA football state finals from 1976 to 2004, the FIFA World Cup in 1994, the Cherry Bowl in 1985 and 1984 and many other events and teams. Notice all of these are dates in the past.

Even Pink Floyd performed the Dark Side of the Moon from the Silverdome . In 1997, when it was opened, it was the largest stadium there was. It was built with a special silver roof that actually looks more silver from the sky than anywhere else and that's where it got the name Silverdome.

It is a domed stadium and because of that, the noise level inside is very high. The city of Pontiac has been trying to sell the property and finally decided to just auction it off once and for all and a Canadian real estate company won the bid for $587,000. The new owner plans to use the Silverdome for, well, if it's a Canadian company, my guess would be ice hockey or soccer. Well, it is soccer. What a bargain someone got today on the Silverdome.



More Ways than One to Make Money Online

Shall we start making more money?

When I set out to write this post, I was going to talk about different ways to make more money but why talk general when I can take a more focused approach and share with you what people do online specifically? I live and breath the Internet these days, so when I ask you to take some time to make more money, I’m thinking about some of these as suggestions.

Blog/Website/Content

I need to start here, because doing this led me to take the leap away from the 9-5. I won’t bore you with the details, because you already know what to do – Throw up a website, write great content, market it, rinse and repeat.

The great thing about these informational websites is that most people can start without expectations and expenses. The lack of pressure frees them to just let their instincts and passion guide them.

On the other hand, the lack of pressure may be a bad thing, as you might not be committed to this side income project. To make matters worst, it is not as easy as everyone has you believe. Know that the vast majority of people who are even remotely successful spent a ton of hours tweaking, learning and building their website. I often tell people that these websites work much like a real world magazine so think about it this way. You can easily slap a few pages of stuff together, call it a magazine and start selling. With some luck, you may even make a few bucks. If however, you want to truly make a comfortable living with your magazine, you better spend time learning how distribution, publishing, and content creation works. This is because even if you don’t do anything yourself, knowing what is involved helps you avoid overpaying your contractors.

Online Stores

Now let’s talk about a more interesting idea. Have you always wanted to sell something but have no intention of renting retail space, modeling your store and then dealing with all the foot traffic, not to mention the dusting and cleanup? If so, consider an online store. The great thing about the online version is that you can spend as much money (or as little as you want), and everything about it can change on a dime (design, payment flow, expansion, contraction among others).

Warning though. You still have to deal with customer support, inventory of your products etc. You also need to always remember that this is a business you are building, so don’t take this lightly just because it’s done online and you never see a physical location.

Online Store Front Redirecting Traffic

Third up on the list is a less popular idea that I’ve seen cleverly implemented. Why worry about payment, customer service, category and inventory when someone else will take care of it for you? With the complexity of software these days, merchants are able to track and distribute commissions to anyone who can send them targeted traffic that ends up buying their products. Some clever entrepreneurs decided that they will just setup an online store front that looks exactly like an online store and redirect everything to a particular merchant. No customer service questions ever again.

Of course, this is an overly simplified version of what goes on, but you get the idea. These people spend a lot of time marketing their online facades. After all, what keeps them separated from the actual store is clever marketing and value add along the sales funnel.

Sell an eBook, or Actually, Anything

You see a ton of these self-made products being sold online these days, and even see a few products promising to teach you how to sell these products. Through the online medium, ANYONE can start selling anything. Be it an ebook, a published book, consulting services or even t-shirts, many people are making money because they are able to reach virtually anyone in the world.

There’s only one important point to remember, and it’s crucial to your success. Forget your product. Yup, I said it. Sure, you absolutely need a good product to be successful long term, but the key to your success is the marketing behind it. Sales won’t happen even if you are giving away a car for everyone that reads your $5 ebook unless people know about it.

Spend at least as much time marketing the product than creating it.

Charge a Subscription Service

Better yet, charge a subscription for your online service. And if you don’t think you can do it, here are three examples of what I have seen that should suggest to you that anyone can do this.

  1. The Tax Expert – I love this one, because it’s so simple. Daily videos answering reader questions every single day. Ideas are coming from the customers, and people stay subscribed because they want to learn more about taxes. The videos are 5-10 minutes, and she only charges $10 a month.
  2. Paid Newsletters – Remember the website content idea we spoke about? Many people charge for it, billed monthly. I’ve seen a ton on investing, but others for restaurant owners and garden lovers as well. The starting cost is practically nil, and people will eventually know about it if it’s worth subscribing, so give this one a thought!
  3. Classes – If you are good at explaining a concept people want to learn about, you can probably start an online class and charge for it. Sure, there are the usuals like math tutors and maybe even digital camera classes. But how about magic tricks?

It Shouldn’t Stop Here

Even if you are successful with any one of these, the worst thing you can do is stop there. Most people never do this, but no one is stopping you from combining any (or all) of the above into a huge online empire. Just like you wouldn’t say no to selling soft drinks if you are a fast food company, you should never say no to selling your own products in an online store.

And if you are smart like McDonalds, you can even start selling coffee too. Now, who would’ve thought of that?


Related Articles at Personal Finance Blog by Money Ning:


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Tuesday, November 17, 2009

Ding Dong the Witch is Dead

Photo: commons.wikimedia.org

Photo: commons.wikimedia.org

Did you know the Wizard of Oz played three nights this past weekend? Friday, Saturday and Sunday, the Wizard of Oz graced our television set and maybe yours too.

The Wizard of Oz is such a classic. I hope everyone sees the Wizard of Oz at least once in their life, however, I have to say, as a child it scared me to death.

In Indiana, they are recruiting for the play. They are looking for Munchkins and they have to sing, "Ding Dong the Witch is Dead" for the auditions.

I remember in high school when we used to sing, "Ding Dong the Witch is Dead" when one teacher walked by. She had such pale skin and she was so mean that we all thought she really was a witch. She would wear black clothes every day.

The Wizard of Oz is a Frank Baum book turned into a musical starring Judy Garland as Dorothy through the magic of Hollywood. It also stars Ray Bloger, Jack Haley and Bert Lahr as the Scarecrow, Tin man and Cowardly Lion. 12 year old Dorothy is a farm girl who runs away and gets caught in a twister while trying to return home to her Aunty Em and Uncle Henry in Kansas. The twister takes her and her house to a fantasy land where she lands the house killing the wicked witch of the West (or East-I can't remember).

Thankfully, Glinda, the good Witch of the North saves her from the wrath of the dead sister witch and places Ruby Red slippers on Dorothy's feet to protect her but by now, Dorothy realizes she really wants to go home and spends the rest of the movie trying to get home. She has to contend with drugged poppies and flying monkeys and the wicked witch but she eventually taps her heels together 3 times and returns to her beloved home.

The music in the Wizard of Oz is terrific. I spent many years singing the songs. Somewhere over the Rainbow turned Judy Garland into a star. What a voice! Along with such classics typically comes controversy and the Wizard of Oz is no exception.

One legend is that one of the Munchkins actually killed him or herself on the set and if you look close, you can see him hanging swinging back and forth while Dorothy, the Tin Man and Scarecrow are singing, "We're off to see the Wizard" and skipping down the yellow brick road. I have looked over and over the film, rewind and slow play and I don't see it. Some claim it was actually a crane or emu that was given to the filming from the Los Angeles Zoo.

There's also a line where Miss Gulch says to bring a damage suit, but it sure sounds like she's saying bring a d*** suit. And what the heck is a damage suit, anyway. But the film makers swear her line says a damage suit. The Wizard of Oz is truly an iconic film that I am glad I have seen and heard all the songs. Ding Dong, the witch is dead…



Monday, November 16, 2009

Obama says world urgently watching US-China talks (AP)

AP - President Barack Obama declared Monday the world is urgently watching for a “meeting of the minds” between the U.S. and China as he meets with President Hu Jintao on the globe’s biggest issues — climate change, economic recession, nuclear proliferation and more.

Read more of Obama says world urgently watching US-China talks (AP)…



Pacquiao shows greatness in small package

Manny Pacquiao had a hat perched jauntily on his head, a bandage wrapped neatly around his right ear. His real work done for the night, he was heading down the Las Vegas Strip to sing a few songs with his band. Everyone was invited, but there was a catch. “Of course, you have to buy tickets for the concert,” Pacquiao said.

Read more of Pacquiao shows greatness in small package…



Friday, November 13, 2009

AT&T's hissy fit over Verizon's "There's a map for that" ads continues

Those clever Verizon ads with the twin 3G U.S. coverage maps — one bathed in red for Verizon, the other patchy blue for AT&T — must really have gotten under AT&T’s skin, with the carrier now appealing directly to its customers to “set the record straight.

Read more of AT&T’s hissy fit over Verizon’s “There’s a map for that” ads continues…



John Thune

Photo: commons.wikimedia.org

Photo: commons.wikimedia.org

There is a big hype about this guy who is named John Thune. He is a senator from South Dakota.

Many of you may or may not know about him but his name still keeps popping up. There has got to be something about him. The first thing everyone knows about him is the way he looks. He has the whole tall dark and handsome thing about him. McCain used to joke that if he had Thune's face, he would have won the election.

The next thing that people ought to know about Thune is that he is extremely nice and genuine. Everyone who knows this guy says so. It is hard to be in his presence and to feel any bit of doubt about his true character.

He really is an amazingly kind guy. In his speeches, he is straightforward about things. He does this in an intelligent way of course. He also is very earnest in everything that he says.

Another thing people notice is his remarkable way of talking about the different issues. He is conservative on most of them but will jump around and explain things very well.

Now it seems the real reason why he keeps coming up is the idea that he may soon run for president. He is an extremely friendly man who does very well with the public. Everyone wants to know if this guy is going to be their next president. We will all have to wait and see.



Thursday, November 12, 2009

Cars are a very fun invention

Photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/36703550@N00/

Photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/36703550@N00/

What’s better then driving down the road with the windows down and the breeze flowing from one side of the car to the other side of the car while blasting your music and jamming out with some friends.

Also hearing your engine as you rev the engine knowing you are driving a fast vehicle that can beat anyone on the road has the greatest feeling. The look of your car is the best part too knowing people are checking out your car thinking it is the best looking car ever is the best.

The look of your vehicle is mostly what counts. Also in my opinion the spoiler of a car makes the car. The spoiler can change the way a car looks by so much.



Airplanes are a massive flying vehicle in a way

Photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/kossy/

Photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/kossy/

It can transport hundreds of people at a time and/or hundreds of things. In my own opinion airplanes are vary scary.

I have never been on one but I am always scared that if I would get on one that it would crash. I have heard that you are more likely to get into a car wreck then a plane wreck but the only difference is if you get into a plane wreck the likely hood of you living is very minimal.

Also if you do not mind the longer trip to get somewhere driving places has its advantages. You get a lot of places to can stop at and check out. You also get a different kind of scenery everywhere except just looking at the clouds or the sky the hole time. Also after hearing about plane hijackings and so forth I am scarred to death of getting on a plane.

In the end the plane ride is much faster and cheaper but scarier and not as fun.



Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Google Offers Free Internet in 47 Airports Until 1/15

In case you missed this on the front page of Google today, they are offering free WiFi at 47 participating airports and on every Virgin America flight from now until January 15, 2010. Many other airports already offer free internet, so give it a try when traveling. From their FAQ:

Q. What are you announcing?
In addition to working with Virgin America, Google has partnered with over 45 airports across the country to offer complimentary WiFi to travelers passing through these cities this holiday season (November 10, 2009 through January 15, 2010).

Q. Why is Google doing this?
We’d like to make the holiday travel crunch a little easier and more pleasant – and what better way to do it than with what we know best: the Internet?

Q. Who is powering this service?
We are working with Boingo, Advanced Wireless Group, Time Warner Cable, Electronic Media Systems, Lilypad as well as numerous airports that provide wireless services themselves.

Read more about Google Offers Free Internet in 47 Airports Until 1/15…



Sunday, November 8, 2009

Obama to attend memorial for Fort Hood victims (AP)

AP - President Barack Obama will attend a memorial service Tuesday honoring victims of the Ford Hood shootings, an attack he described as “all the more heartbreaking and all the more despicable” because it occurred on the nation’s largest Army post.

Read more of Obama to attend memorial for Fort Hood victims (AP)…



House passes health care bill on close vote (AP)

In a victory for President Barack Obama, the Democratic-controlled House narrowly passed landmark health care legislation Saturday night to expand coverage to tens of millions who lack it and place tough new restrictions on the insurance industry.

Read more of House passes health care bill on close vote (AP)…



Saturday, November 7, 2009

Shooting reveals tensions over Muslims in the military (McClatchy Newspapers)

McClatchy Newspapers - WASHINGTON — The killings of 13 people at Fort Hood, Texas, by an Army psychiatrist who also was a Muslim set off a rancorous debate Friday that once again spotlighted the fear among Muslims in America that they’ll be collectively found guilty for the actions of one man.

Read more of Shooting reveals tensions over Muslims in the military (McClatchy Newspapers)…



Friday, November 6, 2009

Black Friday Deals 2009

Photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/drnewton/

Photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/drnewton/

Christmas is slowly creeping closer to us. People are slowly getting more anxious about all the Christmas stuff that needs to be done. It is definitely something that needs to get done for many people.

Luckily, there will be many black Friday deals 2009. I know that Wal-Mart is having these big sales that are going all through November rather than just on black Friday.

That's probably good and will prevent anything from happening like it did last year with the employee that got trampled. I'm sure that Wal-Mart will be the place that is hit the hardest. There are definitely many other black Friday deals.

If you are one to get up and go shopping early that morning to save you some money, then I would suggest scoping out the deals beforehand so you know exactly where you need to go and when to go there.

For example, if you need the most stuff at Wal-Mart, then going there first is probably a good idea. I don't know if it is very safe but at least you will get the deals that you wanted.

You could always go to Best Buy if most of your gifts will be electronics or if your most expensive gifts will be electronics. It is always good to check and see what exactly will be on sale and whether or not you will need that though.

I wish everyone the best of luck while they are shopping that morning. I will be in my bed comfortably sleeping off the turkey and mashed potatoes I ate the night before.



British Airways Credit Card - 100,000 Miles Offer

Here’s a nice credit card offer for those interested in international travel. The Chase British Airways Visa Signature card is offering 50,000 BA Executive Club miles for new cardmembers with first purchase, and another 50,000 BA miles after spending $2,000 within 3 months, for 100,000 miles total. Regular features include earning 1.25 miles per dollar spent. The card does have an annual fee of $75 as well.

50,000 British Airways miles is enough for an economy class transatlantic flight from USA to their “Europe Zone 1″, which includes the United Kingdom, Belgium, France, Germany, Ireland, Luxembourg, Netherlands and Switzerland. Note that “all reward flights are subject to taxes, fees, charges and surcharges, including airline surcharges.”, which can add up. I did a quick search and for a random San Francisco (SFO) to London (LHR) flight in March 2010 that cost $807, the taxes and fees alone were $387.

You’ll also need to fly out of a major city that BA services (see route map). Still, two free flights from US to London even for a few hundred dollars each is a big discount for those looking to buy such a ticket anyways.

What if you like to fly in style? 100,000 miles is good for a single business class ticket from USA to Europe Zone 1… and the fees are more reasonable on a relative basis. A business class flight from SFO to Paris (CDG) in March 2010 would have cost around $4,700 in cash, but the fees/taxes are only about $400 as well:

Finally, if you can manage to spend $30,000 a year on the card, you can even earn a 2-for-1 companion voucher. Time to buy some coins? Thanks to reader Paul for the tip.

Read more about British Airways Credit Card - 100,000 Miles Offer…



Fort Hood: Another victim of shooting rampage dies (AP)

AP - A military official says one more person has died after being injured during a shooting rampage at Fort Hood in Texas.

Read more of Fort Hood: Another victim of shooting rampage dies (AP)…



Thursday, November 5, 2009

Mahmoud Vahidnia, Student, Stuns Iran By Criticizing Supreme Leader

BEIRUT — An unassuming college math student has become an unlikely hero to many in Iran for daring to criticize the country’s most powerful man to his face.

Mahmoud Vahidnia has received an outpouring of support from government opponents for the challenge – unprecedented in a country where insulting supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei is a crime punishable by prison.

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Obama welcomes AARP backing of health care bill (AP)

President Barack Obama trumpeted two major endorsements for his health overhaul push Thursday as House Democratic leaders pushed toward a vote Saturday on the far-reaching legislation remaking the U.S. health care system.

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I don't like to carry my cell phone in my pocket

Photo: http://flickr.com/photos/36645776@N00/

Photo: http://flickr.com/photos/36645776@N00/

It looks like a cancerous blob there, making a lump at my side. And it’s true, it kind of is like cancer. Cell phones are a nuisance.

Think about it–people can get a hold of you wherever you go. I guess it comes in handy sometimes, but most of the time people call you when you’re not able to answer anyway.

At least that’s what always happens to me. Actually, most of the time I have my phone somewhere where I can’t hear it vibrate when someone calls because I don’t like to have it in my pocket. And then I have to bother with remembering to call them back later.



House Dem attacks Obama on immigrants

A House Democrat is accusing President Obama of dehumanizing illegal immigrants with his hard-line stance against allowing them …

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Wednesday, November 4, 2009

President Obama: One Year After Winning it All (Rasmussen Reports)

Rasmussen Reports - One year ago today, Senator Barack Obama became President-elect Obama. He and his team had run nearly a flawless campaign and were about to embark on what turned out to be a nearly flawless transition effort. By Inauguration Day, the man who had won 53% of the vote saw his overall job approval rating soar to 65%.

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Tuesday, November 3, 2009

Dem takes narrow lead in House race in upstate NY (AP)

AP - Democrat Bill Owens held a slim lead in a special congressional election in northern New York that grabbed national headlines in its final days as it highlighted divisions within the Republican Party.

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There are some things in this world that you just can't help loving

Photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/dominicspics/

Photo: http://www.flickr.com/photos/dominicspics/

The sound of crunching a leaf is one of them. That crisp, crinkly sound is incredibly appealing to the ear. Once you crunch one, you must have another one to crunch. At least that’s how I always feel.

That’s why I love autumn. It is probably my favorite season of the year. I love all the dead leaves, and I love all the different colors of the leaves before they die and fall to the ground.

There is a road by my house that has trees growing all along it. In the fall they all look like little candles, standing in a row, because they turn orange and red. Autumn is such a pretty time of year.



Zappos.com shoes

Photo: commons.wikimedia.org

Zappos.com Headquarters Photo: commons.wikimedia.org

I remember last year when Sarah Palin was running for the Vice Presidency along with John McCain that she wore some killer red shoes. These shoes were from Zappos.

I had never heard of Zappos before then but I took notice because of the Zappos.com shoes. Some people were more interested in what Sarah Palin was wearing than what her stance was on many issues as was evident by the Zappos red shoes.

Well, Zappos is in the news again today. Amazon purchased Zappos.com for $1.2 billion dollars. Zappos must be doing pretty well for itself if Amazon is willing to pay that kind of money for it. Apparently it had 4.5 million visitors in June. Zappos was started in 1999 and is now the biggest online shoe store. In 2007, it grossed over $800 million.

Zappos comes from the word zapatos which is Spanish for shoes. Although Zappos started selling shoes, it now sells purses, eyewear, watches, DVDs and electronic devices, clothing and has expanded to a high-end shoe that they call Zappos Couture. Zappos is great if you have a hard to find shoe size, maybe a wide shoe or a larger than what some would consider to be normal sized shoe.

They are headquartered in Henderson, Nevada. They have 1500 employees worldwide. Their goal is to offer the best service in the industry. They used to offer free shipping but they ended it in January 2008.

They do offer a return policy that features a whole year for you to return products and a 24 hour a day call center. With Amazon behind Zappos, there's no stopping Zappos.com shoes.



Utley, Lee help Phils stave off Series elimination (AP)

By the ninth inning, Phillies fans were preparing for the worst. The New York Yankees were at it again, chipping away at a dwindling lead and threatening to take away the Phils’ World Series title right there at Citizens Bank Park. Desperate to hang on, somehow Chase Utley and the Phillies did. Derek Jeter grounded into a double play, Mark Teixeira struck out, and Philadelphia staved off the…

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